I understand voicemail and I “get” cost savings by the major companies. The Internet is great for a multitude of things, but sometimes I just like to talk to real people. The kind who say, “Good morning, may I help you with your question?”

I have had two episodes lately that have almost caused me to tear out the short hair that I have.

The first was an insurance claim that the insurance company officials did not want to pay as they said I did not have insurance at the time. I had paid the bill before it was due, had the canceled check, had dates, all the account numbers that were needed, etc.

I talked to the company that I had mailed the check to and they had received it, but they then had to send it on to my insurance company, which they did. They sent me a copy of the draft. The insurance company was not going to pay the bill. I must have called the company 45 times over the course of six months.

After pressing numerous numbers and talking to several different people, I felt no one would help me. I don’t scream, swear or slam the phone down, ever. I did what I thought I would never do. I resorted to tears!

The poor fellow on the other end, who by now knew me personally, was dead silent. He said “ma’am I have done all I can do. Why don’t you pay it again?”

Now that was a good idea. I finally took the cancelled check, the bill, etc. and, handed it over to someone else to fight for me. They called me later and said they had written it off after numerous calls to the insurance company. Wow!

The second incident was this past week. I received an offer in the mail that I could not refuse. So I called the toll-free number — one of the two options or go online and fill out the form. But being a skeptic, I wanted to ask some questions of a human.

Well, after eight minutes of being shifted from one office to another, they gave me another number to call. They were sure “that” person could help me. (Of course, I always write down the name of the person I am speaking with and the date I called.)

I ended up talking to someone that I had no idea how to spell her name, nor could she even remotely speak English. (I spelled Ann for her three times and slowly.)

Talk about frustrated — both of us were. She could not help me and said I would need to call the first number that I called, and she could not transfer me. I am sure my blood pressure was not at a good number, so I just decided it was not going to happen.

Page 2 of 2 - Now, I am dealing with major companies here. Do you think the president of that company would have had to do what I did? I don’t think so. So what did I do? I went to the computer and let my question go unanswered.

Please tell me what happened to human interaction? Charge me and everyone else a $1 more a month, and let me talk to a person who speaks English please.

Ann Young recommends blood pressure pills before calling insurance on the phone.